Air Force Academy – Ryan Harrison is auditioning for real for the place-kicker’s job at Air Force, and Wednesday he hit almost all his lines in an attempt to win the job.
Coach Troy Calhoun was pleased with the junior kicker who couldn’t play last year because of a suspension for breaking academy rules.
“We were down on the turf with pressure coming at him, and he hit the bell well today,” Calhoun said. “He was 10-for-11, and he hit a 55-yard field goal.”
Knowing he has a chance to start, Harrison said his focus is different this season.
“Last year practices were my games,” said the 6-foot-1, 180 pounder from Keller, Texas. “It was fun coming to practice every day, but now practices are preparing for the games. It’s exciting. Right now, I’m No. 1. I’ve got an awesome holder and snapper in Brandon Geyer and Tony Norman.”
Calhoun plans to keep it exciting for Harrison through preseason practice.
“We have to make sure we put the screws down on him and make practices a bear for him,” Calhoun said. “He’ll only benefit from that.”
Harrison heard all the ifs last year as the Falcons struggled to a 4-8 season. A few more field goals – AFA lost three games by three points or fewer – would have helped the cause.
“There won’t be any ifs, ands or buts this year,” Harrison said. “Everything I do will be very important. Punting can decide field position, and even though coaches don’t like to settle for field goals, it’s always important to put points on the board.”
Harrison also is at the top of the depth chart for the punter’s job, and he said punting is a bigger challenge to him than place-kicking.
Calhoun put the Falcons through their only two-a-day practice session of the preseason and welcomed about 90 freshmen to the practice routine.
“Candidly, I wouldn’t be surprised if there aren’t as many five freshmen on the two-deep this year,” Calhoun said.
Cornerback Reggie Remberg, linebacker Kenny Lamendola and tailback Savier Stephens, made the biggest impressions from the freshman class. Stephens is up from the academy’s prep school.
Footnotes
Calhoun mentioned sophomore receiver Sean Quintana from Highlands Ranch High School as a player on the move up the depth chart. “Sean plays with passion,” Calhoun said. “He’s a focused and an intense player, and he’ll bump up a little bit on our next depth chart.” … Senior tackle Dan Holder will miss four or five weeks because of a sprained knee. … With the season’s opener Sept. 1 against South Carolina State looming, Air Force’s radio network still is searching for a Denver outlet.
Staff writer Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
